Miami Fashion Week

Miami Fashion Week (MFW), which showcases the hottest looks from designers based in Miami, the Caribbean, Latin America, Europe, and beyond, returns for its sixteenth straight year.

The fall 2014 designs will be debuted from May 15-18 at the Miami Beach Convention Center. The theme for this year’s showcase is "resort wear." New this year, the Miami Fashion Week presenting sponsor is Eastern Air Lines.

The official kick-off party and press conference for Miami Fashion Week starts the evening before the collections are unveiled, on Wednesday, May 14 at 7 p.m. The first day of the Miami Fashion Week, Thursday, May 15, showcases the best of Miami’s haute couture. This includes the collection from special guest designer Victoria López Castro, who will be debuting her fall looks straight from her Miami Beach salon during the Miami Overture show (5:30 p.m.).

Other designers featured in the Miami Overture show are Erin Healy, Vika Frolova and Fabrizio de Castro. The special Eastern Air Lines Miami Style Showcase starts at 8 p.m., featuring the fall collections from Julian Chang, Lisu Vega, Kayce Armstrong, Samy Gicherman, and Viviana Gabeiras. Ending the show at 9:45 p.m. is the fall lineup from Custo and David Dalmau of the fashion label Custo Barcelona.

On Friday, May 16, the second day at the Convention Center starts with a special fashion show for parents and children, with the mini-models outfitted by clothing from Lola Kids. That show begins at 5:30 p.m. At 6:45, the Jones African American Showcase debuts the latest designs from black fashion designers from the U.S. and the Caribbean. These designers include Saintil, Prajje Jn Baptiste, D’Andra Williams and the Tennessee-born Wilbourn Sisters.

At 8 p.m., the Peru Showcase debuts fashions from Peruvian designers, such as Escudo, Elfer Castro and Claudia Bertolero. Ending the evening at 9:30 is a special show featuring the lingerie and swimwear of designer Andrés Sardá, who has been heating up beaches and bedrooms in his native Spain as well as worldwide for over 50 years.

The first show on Saturday, May 17 is the evening wear and lounge wear showcase, starting at 5:30 p.m., with presentations by designers Fadila Kihel, Magnolia, and Teresa Rosati. The Argentina showcase follows at 6:45, with innovative and exciting Argentine fashion designers Agostina Bianchi, Narciso, Emprendedores de Nuestra Tierra, Cuarto Colorado and Mariana Castro unveiling their fall looks.

The cutting-edge designs from Italy will debut at 8 p.m.; on the program are this year’s fashions from Maliparmi and Stella Jean. Ending the evening is the special swimwear showcase; after all, what kind of resort wear weekend would be complete without options for the beach and the pool? Bathing suits will be modeled from labels Sambarela, Indie Soul and Yamamay.

Prêt-à-porter means "ready to wear" in French, and these collections are mass-produced. If you like what you see, chances are you’ll be able to buy what you like, as can you, and you, and the list goes on. The prêt-à-porter showcase starts off the final day, Sunday, May 18, at 5:30 p.m. with looks from Paulo Silva, Matías Hernán and Anna Mora on display.

Sherri Hill debuts her fall formal wear line in a special show at 6:45 p.m. (You can find her fashions for sale at Georgette’s Boutique in Tampa, Minerva’s Bridal in Orlando and Mario Pucci in Boca Raton.) The final show of the weekend is at 8 p.m. and involves the 2014 East Coast debut of the styles of Spanish prêt-à-porter queen Agatha Ruiz de la Prada. At 9 p.m., the Miami Fashion Week organizers will host a wrap party.

If you’re interested in buying tickets, you can do so in style by choosing from three different price levels. The silver level allows you a seat, access to the VIP lounge, and an official Miami Fashion Week bag. Tickets cost $75 per day. The gold level includes all the silver amenities, and adds goodies to the Fashion Week bag, access to the opening and closing parties, as well as access to seminars and conferences held during the week. Gold tickets cost $150 per day. Finally, the platinum level gives you all the aforementioned perks and also gives you a VIP parking preference. The platinum tickets cost $500 for the entire week, plus taxes. All ticket levels can be purchased at miamifashionweek.com/tickets.

Miami Fashion Week is organized with the assistance of the Miami Beach Visitor and Convention Authority, the Miami Beach Convention Center, World Trade Center Miami, and the Miami-Dade County Office of Cultural Affairs. Eastern Air Lines (www.easternairlines.aero) is a presenting sponsor of the event.

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